View Full Version : HotFoot Allert !
vicegrip
11-28-2007, 01:40 PM
I have to let this thing lay a while longer.....
drug it off to the side and left a message for the rightfull possible owners.
But out of sight of the night-scrappers.
It's very old .
It's Cast !
It's got thick layers of a century of Paint.
It may have antique Vallue.
But if I show too much interest , I'm sure it will grow dollar $ign$;)
Likely some kind of early 1900s fire-hydrant valve thingy ??
Patients.;)
Hotfoot
11-28-2007, 04:24 PM
I doubt that it was abandoned...they know its heavier than a Mack Truck, so they didn't worry about someone carrying it away...but...y'know....:rolleyes:Its cast iron, thought, and probably 300 pounds, so I have no ides what you would do with it. It would make a some great Mafia "'Going Away Gift" Jewlery (like a necklace, if there is a large lake nearby.:p
vicegrip
11-28-2007, 05:50 PM
I doubt that it was abandoned...they know its heavier than a Mack Truck, so they didn't worry about someone carrying it away...but...y'know....:rolleyes:Its cast iron, thought, and probably 300 pounds, so I have no ides what you would do with it. It would make a some great Mafia "'Going Away Gift" Jewlery (like a necklace, if there is a large lake nearby.:p
Heh Heh :
I cary-ed it on one shoulder , so it's a tad under 300 :D
but there is a large lake just a mile and half due east;)
Some Creep
11-28-2007, 11:13 PM
A Pic? A Pic ? A Pic????
:confused:
Crap! I gotta SEE it! That's considered 'cruel and unusual punishment' around these parts fellahs.........that that there be illegal!
:(
rcav8r
11-29-2007, 04:56 PM
You have to post a pic or it never happened!:D
vicegrip
11-30-2007, 07:37 AM
A Pic? A Pic ? A Pic????
:confused:
Crap! I gotta SEE it! That's considered 'cruel and unusual punishment' around these parts fellahs.........that that there be illegal!
:(
You have to post a pic or it never happened!:D
It'll be a while , got loads of "real" chores to do.
and the hole in the ground where it was pulled out appears filled in so ,
I would like to think it was considered rubbish.
Like I said if I pay to close attention , it will grow dollar $igns....
even if it would have ended up in the dumpster.
Mind you it is not stunning in appearance , in-fact rather simple....
just real old look'N
Some Creep
11-30-2007, 10:55 AM
My father-in-law is an ex battalion chief and would LOVE to get an old hydrant. He likes the ones from his era, late '60's and '70's, but the older ones are sure nice.
I recently did a startup at a firefighter training facility in Seattle that had over a dozen old hydrant versions on rolling carts, presumably to illustrate to the trainees the different versions of hydrants they may run into that were / are used in Seattle at some point.
YES, old hydrants ARE sought after! Older and more unique the more valuable they become (duh, right?).
The father-in-law has had a '68 (I believe) American LaFrance engine he was restoring, and has a 'pull in case of fire' box on his deck. I never knew how those pull boxes worked until we took it apart and he showed me. LOVED the siren on the old engine! DON'T get your finger caught in one though! *poof* gone!
Neat stuff!
usmcpop
11-30-2007, 12:31 PM
Just leave a note saying you need something heavy to chain the pit bulls to so they don't get away (again). Or that you and Vinnie and Guido were gonna take a little boat ride and need an anchor.
If you get a chance, do a little digging in that hole. Maybe you found Jimmy Hoffa :eek:
vicegrip
11-30-2007, 01:57 PM
My father-in-law is an ex battalion chief and would LOVE to get an old hydrant. He likes the ones from his era, late '60's and '70's, but the older ones are sure nice.
I recently did a startup at a firefighter training facility in Seattle that had over a dozen old hydrant versions on rolling carts, presumably to illustrate to the trainees the different versions of hydrants they may run into that were / are used in Seattle at some point.
YES, old hydrants ARE sought after! Older and more unique the more valuable they become (duh, right?).
The father-in-law has had a '68 (I believe) American LaFrance engine he was restoring, and has a 'pull in case of fire' box on his deck. I never knew how those pull boxes worked until we took it apart and he showed me. LOVED the siren on the old engine! DON'T get your finger caught in one though! *poof* gone!
Neat stuff!
I don't know didle about specific fire related abilia ....It doesn't have a spot to put a hose .....I think it is a fire valve for the huge 1800s building that is opened outside the building ....now-a-days it would be a wheel on the side of the building no ?
maybe 1930s 40s upgrade ??........who knows I'll swing past next week.
Had two chunks of small scale RR track in cement to keep trucks off it
the tracks are ancheint too 30% rusted away
vicegrip
12-03-2007, 07:08 PM
family PC timeshare ....back a tad Later
Hotfoot
12-03-2007, 07:30 PM
I don't see any pics....:confused:
vicegrip
12-03-2007, 09:25 PM
here Ya go.
vicegrip
12-03-2007, 09:27 PM
more .........pics
BBackSoon
12-04-2007, 10:45 AM
Nice find. I am jealous.
usmcpop
12-04-2007, 11:15 AM
It's an alien! That, or part of an old-fashioned freeze-resistant shutoff valve perhaps.
weldckr
12-04-2007, 11:26 AM
It is a fire hydrant, that style is still in use today, it looks like it got snapped off at the mounting hub, the long rod sticking out the bottom is what activates the valve to open the hydrant. the red part is cast iron and the whole thing is worth scrap value or very valuable to a dog!LOL
Hotfoot
12-04-2007, 11:45 AM
Very cool, VICE! Great patina on that old. caked on paint also. I would cut the rod off, and set it (plumb) in a 24 x 24" x 6" concrete base (just form a box, hang it plumb into it, put in some rebar and a couple sacks of Sakcrete). Find a funky, groovy (Sorry, the 60's keep flashing past!) container that can hold sand for butts, and mount it so it can be tipped to clean it out. A restaurant or any non-smoking establishment that has lots of old, funky decor will stand it up to right outside the front door...keeps customers from flipping their butts all over the sidewalk. It could also be a menu holder for "Today's Special" board, etc.
Paint the concrete (after about a week's drying out) with black paint thinned way down ,..like 2/3 thinner to 1/3 paint, then splash "just abit here and there" thinned red on it right after the black. When that drys brush the whole shebang, concrete and all, down with walnut oil based stain (I use Minwax "Special Walnut), then wipe it all right off with an old, coarse rag. Let that sit for two days then hit it all with clear...$200.00, is my bet...but sometimes '$100.00 and two dinners" might do the trick! Be sure the manager you are talking to has some artsy interest, if not, they'll just think you are nuts!:p
Move it around with a hand truck.
weldckr
12-04-2007, 12:41 PM
I did sell a differnt style to a vets office a few years ago for about $150
It is a fire sprinkler system post indicator valve normally installed between the water supply main and the sprinkler system. They were normally locked in the open position and only closed if the entire system needed to be shut down. It was/is normally located far enough away from the building to be out of the collapse zone. The OS&Y valves with the large hand wheel are normally located at the Fire Dept. connections on in a mechanical room just inside the the building from the FD connection.
vicegrip
12-04-2007, 03:14 PM
It was/is normally located far enough away from the building to be out of the collapse zone. .
Well that would be typical of our bass acwards local culture.
It was 18" away from a 4 story brick wall with 20% window area.
Not real smart,,,,,, haven't tryed to turn from open to close yet.
It needs to croisen for a while yet , so as not to suggest to the otherwise dullards that it may have some value.
Once I enquire it will go from hopper-fodder to $$$s if I get impatient.
Thanks for the input Guys
Some Creep
12-04-2007, 05:19 PM
The bottom 'square' and rod can be cut off and extended, then weld a 'tee' across it at the top of the rod. Then you have a manual version called a curb key, used by the city guys to open valves everywhere. You could do clandestine valve movements during the night.....(ain't I evil?).....:D
Look for the 8" diameter iron lids in pavement, sidewalks, etc. They're usually labeled with the valve type beneath it like 'fire', etc. Open it up, drop in your new curb key until it clinks over the square valve head and give it a turn! Presto! Vandalism! :D
It would be tough to put a close date on this other than a ball-park guess. The style is really similar to how they are still made today. Now they have incorporated locking latches to keep unruly guys out of them, but they're still pretty much the same. It's really just a valve actuator with an indicator.
NICE FIND!!!
I'm jealous!
They may have installed the valve during the original building construction and installed this indicator then, but like IQ said, they are now installed further away. I'd hate to be the guy who would have had to open that thing next to a burning building!
boykjo
12-04-2007, 05:46 PM
Its a PIV fire control valve. It enables fire sprinkler system to be turned off and on for testing.
You can get some cash for scrap cast at your local metal recycling co.
rcav8r
12-07-2007, 10:14 AM
If you can get the layers of paint off, powdercoat it, and set it in a base, then you may have a nice decorative item as others have mentioned.
556man
12-07-2007, 12:07 PM
I could imagine Hotfoot putting some arms and legs on that and turning it into a robot. Like something from Flash Gordon. :p Nice find.
556man
Hotfoot
12-07-2007, 12:23 PM
I could imagine Hotfoot putting some arms and legs on that and turning it into a robot. Like something from Flash Gordon. :p Nice find.
556man
That wouldn't be much different than something like this guy...:D
http://i9.tinypic.com/85wq2x0.jpg
556man
12-07-2007, 12:42 PM
That wouldn't be much different than something like this guy...:D
http://i9.tinypic.com/85wq2x0.jpg
Yep. When I saw that I remember that robot I've been watching on TV when I was a kid named Gigantor. Looks similar to Gigantor without the horns and short legs.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlWaTAZUxUQ
Gigantor and Flash Gordon. Boy I'm old. :p
556man
vicegrip
12-08-2007, 10:15 AM
If you can get the layers of paint off, powdercoat it, and set it in a base, then you may have a nice decorative item as others have mentioned.
I rarely apply a "pureist's" aproach, but in this case , I would like to remove all eccept the original layer ......if enough of it is left ...that would be cool.
largely
12-09-2007, 11:24 PM
Vise,
Take it to a soda blaster. They can remove one layer at a time.
Larry
vicegrip
12-10-2007, 01:36 AM
Vise,
Take it to a soda blaster. They can remove one layer at a time.
Larry
Hhmmmnnn?
Interesting , I wonder how $pensive?
Just the ticket I'll bet.
Thanks
Some Creep
12-10-2007, 11:22 AM
Vise,
Take it to a soda blaster. They can remove one layer at a time.
Larry
I think I've seen this process before......
Mentos and Diet Coke, right?